Sterile surgical package



April 1942- J. H. BREWER 2,281,473

STERILE SURGICAL PACKAGE Filed Dec. 16, 1940 I \C F9. a

III/III ?atented Apr. 28, 1942 stares;

2,281,473 s'rnann sUaGrcAr. PACKAGE Application December is, 1940,sen-e1 No. 370,394

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a sterile surgical package for powders,granules, crystals and similar finely divided solid materials.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a sterile package forsurgical powder having convenient means for applying the powder directlyto a wound or the like, including a sterile inner container for thepowder from which it may be dispensed directly and a protective outerenvelope for the inner powder container to preserve it in sterilecondition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sterile package forsurgical powder comprising inner and outer envelopes so constructed thatthe sterile inner envelope containing the powder may be removed from theouter envelope without its dispensing portion being touched by thefingers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single service sterilepackage for surgical powders comprising inner and outer envelopes soconstructed that the outer envelope may be opened without use of anyimplements and the closure of the outer envelope serves to close thedispensing openings of the inner envelope.

More specifically an object of the invention is to provide a steriledispensing package for surgical powder comprising an outer protective envelope having a readily openable end closure capable of sealing theenvelope against ingress of contaminating matter, an inner powdercontaining envelope having a perforated end or edge for dispensing thepowder contained therein, said powder containing envelope being disposedwithin said outer protective envelope with the perforated end thereofdisposed adjacent the closure end of the outer envelope, and aprotective cap of sheet material enclosing the perforated end of saidinner powder containing envelope whereby the same may be grasped by thefingers and withdrawn from the outer envelope without loss of powdertherefrom and without contacting the perforated dispensing end thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a waterproof sterilepackage for surgical powders.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description and upon reference to the accompanyingdrawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention and inwhich Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a package embodying the invention,

1 Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2, withpart of the inner container in section, a

Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing the package partly assembled, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the manner of using the powdercontaining envelope.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the sterile packageaccording to the invention comprises an outer elongated envelope 5 ofheavy, relatively stiff paper or other similar material sealed at oneend, as by a glued flap 6. The outer envelope 5 is preferably of a typewhich may readily be opened without instruments and which can exert aslight pressure on the contents thereof adjacent the closure. Anenvelope of the known type embodying a metal clamping strip in itsclosure has been found satisfactory and is shown by way of illustration.The mouth end l,

of the envelope 5 is provided with a sealing flap 8 which is carried by,or may be an extension of, the wall 9 of the envelope. The sealing flap8 extends beyond the other wall W of the envelope and at its end isprovided with a transverse metal clamping strip l2, the ends l3 of whichextend beyond the side edges of the envelope. The mouth end of theenvelope is closed by folding the portion of the flap 8 carrying themetal strip i2 upon itself inwardly over the end, portion ll of the wallit) and then folding the flap and the upper ends of both walls tightlyupon themselves against the envelope and fastening the same againstunfolding by bending the ends 13 of the strip i2 around the edges of theenvelope into clamping engagement against the back wall 9. An envelopethus constructed may efiectively be sealed against contamination of thecontents, and

tents when desired.

Disposed within the outer protective envelope 5 is an elongated innerenvelope Id, slightly smaller in all dimensions than the envelope 5 soas to be readily slidable in and out of the mouth of the latter.Theenvelope It contains a quantity of finely divided surgical material,such as antiseptic powder, indicated at is, and at the end thereofadjacent the mouth of the outer envelope is provided with a series ofperforations i6 through which the powder contained therein may be dustedinto a wound. The perforations is are preferably formed by notches cutor otherwise provided in the end of the envelope it across theconnecting fold between the walls thereof.

A removable protective cap or sheath H encloses the perforated end ofthe inner powder envelope. The cap I1 is formed of sheet material, suchas transparent Cellophane, and preferably is in the form of a flat tubeclosed at one can readily be opened for extraction of the con- 2 aasaarssnugly fitting cap or sheath is provided which prevents escape of powderthrough the perforations' 16 during handling of the package and alsoprovides a non-contaminating hand-hold by which the inner envelope maybe grasped when withdrawnig it from the outer envelope. protectivesheath i'i preferably is not attached to the inner envelope so that itmay readily be slid off of the end thereof after the latter is withdrawnfrom the outer envelope, permitting dispensing of the powder'through theperforations l8. It will thus be seen that the perforated end The of thepowder envelope I4 is protected until the instant of use, againstcontamination of the contents or any portion of the envelope which willbe contacted by the powder in being dispensed therefrom.

In making up the sterile package, the requisite amount of antisepticpowder or other finely divided material required to be maintained insterile condition until used, is placed in the inner envelope I4,preferably through the bottom end, which is then closed by the sealingflap I8. The protective cap or sheath I1 is placed over the serratedend, as described above, and the filled envelope is inserted into theouter protective envelope 5 which is then closed and sealed by doublefolding'the flap 8 and clamping the ends l3 of the metal strip l2 aroundthe body of the envelope. The assembled package is then subjected to dryheat sterilization.

It will be noted that the inner envelope I4 is made of such a length asto extendfrom the bottom of the'envelope 5 to a point immediatelyadjacent the other end thereof directly under the folded closure 8, asseen in'Figs. 1, 2 and 5. Thus the upper serrated edge-of the envelopeI4 is gripped or held pressed between the walls of the .outer envelopeby reason of the meeting of the walls at the end fold in the latter andby the clamping action of the metal closure strip I2. The resultantpressing together of the walls of the inner envelope at the perforatedend thereof effectively closes the openings I16 and supplements theaction of the sheath I? in preventing escape of powder from the innerenvelope during shipment and handling prior to opening of the packfreeunsealed ta-b end 2! for facilitating opening of the same. A packagethus sealed is particularly adapted for use in the field since it mayactually be immersed in water without affecting the sterile condition ofthe contents.

Since the inner envelope is protected from contact with the air andcannot be contaminated by handling of the package, it and the surgicalpowder contained therein will remain sterile un til such time as theouter envelope is opened and removed for use, thereby providing asurgeon or other person desiring to use a sterile powder with a readysupply of the powder and a sterile dispensing carrier from which thepowder may be sprinkled directly into a wound.

The manner of using the inner envelope for dusting the powder therefromis shown in Fig. 5. The user grasps the envelope l4 between its endswith the thumb engaging one side edge and the fingers the other sideedge. With the envelope so held, a slight pressure on the sides causesthe walls to bulge away from each other, thus opening the perforationsl6 to permit the'powder to escape through the same.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed by way of illustration, it is to be understood that variousmodification in the details of construction and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention withinthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sterile package for surgical powders comprising an outer protectiveenvelope having a closure, an inner sterile envelope for the-surgicalpowder disposed within said outer envelope and removable therefromthrough said closure, said inner envelope having perforations along oneedge thereof for dispensing the powder and being disposed with said edgeadjacent the closure of said outer envelope, and a protective, readilyremovable sheath enclosing a portion of said envelope including theperforated edge of the same, said sheath serving as a closure for thedispensing openings and as a contamination preventing hand-hold for usein withdrawing said inner envelope from said outer envelope.

2. A. sterile package for surgical powders com 'prising an outerprotective envelope having a closure at one end thereof, an innersterile envelope containing a quantity of surgical powder disposedwithin said outer envelope and removable therefrom through the endthereof upon opening said closure, said inner envelope having powderdispensing perforations along one edge thereof and being disposed withsaid edge adjacent the closure end of said outer envelope, and aprotective, readily removable sheath enclosing a portion of said innerenvelope including the perforated edge of the same, said sheath servingas a closure for said dispensing openings and as a contaminationpreventing hand-hold for use in withdrawing said inner envelope fromsaid outer envelope. 3 r

JOHN H. BREWER.

